Amount: up to a maximum of $5M in repayable, interest-free contributions for businesses and in non-repayable contributions for not-for-profit organizations

Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs) are delivering $200 million through the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) to help bring new AI technologies to market and speed up AI adoption in sectors across the country. Through this pillar of the RAII, FedDev Ontario will support businesses to adopt or integrate AI or AI-driven solutions to improve operational efficiency, create productivity gains and strengthen competitiveness.

FedDev Ontario may give priority to projects focused on transformative AI adoption, accelerating strategic AI integration, process re-engineering, and/or capacity development in the following adoption applications:

  • Healthcare and life sciences (e.g., imaging and diagnostics, drug design and discovery, precision medicine).
  • Enterprise solutions (e.g., financial and business services, pricing and risk analysis, service optimization).
  • Manufacturing (e.g., auto, aerospace, steel, chemicals, smart manufacturing, machine learning, robotics).
  • Mobility (e.g., logistics, automated drone delivery, automated warehouse, route optimization).

Eligibility requirements

For businesses:

  • Be incorporated and registered to do business in Canada or Ontario.
  • Have at least 5 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) and no more than 500 FTEs.
  • Have at least 3 years of business operations, as demonstrated by your financial statements.
  • Demonstrate that you will secure rights to intellectual property (IP) required for the project.
  • Where applicable, must not infringe on any IP rights, and demonstrate that you will own any IP you will create or develop in carrying out the project.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to the responsible development and use of AI.

For not-for-profit organizations providing services to businesses:

  • Be an incorporated not-for-profit organization in Canada or Ontario.
  • Have a track record of providing services to multiple businesses in southern Ontario.
  • Have an Intellectual Property (IP) policy, which addresses ownership and protection of IP, and rights to third party IP if required for the project.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to the responsible development and use of AI.

Eligible projects

For businesses:
The AI Adoption pillar supports projects focused on the purchase and installation of AI or AI-driven solutions (beyond the purchase of commonly available AI tools) within business operations with the aim to scale, improve process efficiency, and/or increase productivity and competitiveness.

Examples of supportable activities could include:

  • Acquiring and integrating AI solutions.
  • Improving governance and adopting best management practices.
  • Upgrading equipment, improving digital infrastructure, re-engineering processes
  • Accessing AI expertise.
  • Building capacity and training (not duplicative of other government support programs).
  • Strengthening cybersecurity measures.
  • Establishing guidelines/frameworks/committees to ensure the responsible use of AI.

For non-for-profit organizations:
The AI Adoption pillar supports projects focused on strengthening regional or sectoral productivity and competitiveness by supporting businesses with the adoption or integration of AI solutions within their operations (beyond the purchase of commonly available AI tools).

Examples:

  • Facilitating the acquisition and integration of AI solution(s).
  • Providing technology test-beds.
  • Creator/buyer matchmaking exchanges/events.
  • Providing AI expertise, training, mentorship and other advisory supports.
  • Activities to attract and retain talent.
  • Supporting business development.
  • Developing frameworks and reports on best practices related to the responsible use of AI that could be used to build trust and support stewardship.

Amount

  • up to a maximum of $5 million in repayable, interest-free contributions for small- and medium-sized enterprises
  • up to a maximum of $5 million in non-repayable contributions for not-for-profit organizations

Deadline

The applications are accepted between October 22, 2024, and December 20, 2024, at 4:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (Southern Ontario Only). Continuous intake in other provinces and territories.